River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-06-02


| For mocnworts bloom, aud June is here,
The sweetest month Of all the year.
| The fallOW -hnches haunt the corn
With songs OF summers dead and gone,
| And every lass that's fair to view
Doth walk with fernseed in her shoe.
/ For Natures darling, June, is here,
The wooing month Of all the year.
-ANELIE RVEs, IN HARPER's MAGAzIEE ron
JUNE.
FLOWERS AS EDUCATORS.
The lessons of early childhood are
those we remember longest, and il has
occurred to me that an interest in the
cultivation of trees and plants might be
aroused in school days,while habits are
forming, that would last through life.
To accomplish this the schoolhouse,
outside as well rs in. should become "a
source of instruction. NeatneSs is the
first principle TO be iuculeated With
ont this all gardening operations are de-
void of charm. Simplicity in arrange
ment is of the utmost Importance.
| Children must not be burdened with
work; 80 that the best effect we can pro-
duce with the least amount of labor
will prove most desirable. Pupils at a
very early age may be taught TO feel a
sense of ownership in their school
grounds. aud a desire will consequently
arise that they ought to assist in main
tanning the requisite order in this gar
den of their own. 1t is great mistake
TO plant anything, even Il single tree,
in the portion allotted to play. Space
should be provided close around the
building and skirting the boundaries of
the grounds. Shade is essential, but il
must not interfere with outdoor games.
A few trees set reasonably near the
building IS i'm order, and an occasional
specimen or small clump at intervals
planted close to the outer edge of the
grounds will have a pleasing effect.
On the Northern boundary of the place
should be planted "A belt of evergreens to
serve as "A wind-break, and it is wonder
full how useful apurpose it serves. Along
the Southern limits. rs well as at the sides
may extend border with easy flowing
outlines for hardy shrubs and flowers.
Perennial plants are the best for the pur-
pose. As they require little care beyond
keeping down troublesome weeds from
smothering them out and stalking up the
weaker stems when in bloom.
Interspersed among these few bulbs
of gladiolus, tuberoses, tiger flowers,
lilies. etc:, will assist in making fine
show Of flowers and accustom the child
rem to the various classes of plants; real
object lessons, at once attractive and
useful. In front of the school-building
(and every such edifice should front the
South may be placed one or more flower
beds for either few anAuals or the ten
der coleus and geraniums. Over the
walls should cling the pretty little Japan
Ampelopsis, and the doorway must be
festooned with selection from the long
list of available ornamental vines. All
these plants will be teaching their silent
lessons every day, and with judicious
hints from the teacher instruction will
be given that will prove a source of life
long pleasure and profit.
CHARACTER.
Many people seem to forget that
character grows-that it is not some
thing to put on ready-made with wo-
manhood or manhood, but day by day,
here little and there little, grows
with the strength. until, good or bad.
it becomes almost coat of mail.
Look ut man of busineSs-prompt
reliable, conscientious, vet clear-headed
ana energetic. When do you suppose
he developed all those admirable quail
ties? W hen he was a boy. Let as
see how boy of ten years gets up in
the morning, works, plays, and studies
and we will tell you Just what kind of a
man he will make. The boy that is
late at breakfast, and late at school,
stands a poor chance to he a prompt
man. The boy who neglects his duties,
be they ever so small, and then excuses
himself by saying, Il forgot, ! don't
think will never be a reliable man:
and the boy who finds pleasure in the
suffering of weaker things, will never
be noble, generous, kind mana
gentleman.
WATER FOR SMALL FRUITS.
Where water can be commanded.
there is nothing SO profitable as to well
soak the soil about small fruits; first
about the time that they have set their
fruit. Much of the value of this Oper-
alton, however, will depend on the ma
ture of the soil. The advantages are
least in tenacious and greatest in a
II = -..fI fbaf N animal
derives most benefit from food when il
is hungry before it begins to eat, it is
certainly so with plants. Water applied
to soil already wet is an injury; and
water never has 50 telling an advantage
on vegetation rs when every leaf IS
about to wither up for the want OF IT.
A plant that never seems to want water
is i'm very doubtful condition in regard
to its health.
GARDEN WORK.
In the cultivation of garden crops
the hoe and rake should be continually
at work. Weeds should be taken in
hand before they are barely out of the
seed-leaf and one-half the usual labor
of vegetable gardening will be avoided.
Hoeing or earthing up of most garden
crops is of immense advantage in nearly
every case. One would suppose that
i'm our hot climate, flat culture would
be much more beneficial; but fair
trial. say on every other row of bed
of cabbages. will show a great differ
ence in favor of the earthed-up
plants.
GRASSES.
Professor Beal, in Grasses of North
America says that in this country. as
rule, pastures can hardly be said TO re-
ceive any care No crop gets less atten-
ton and none would respond more
quickly to good care. Much attention
has been given to premium crops of
corn, wheat. potatoes, the improvement
of horses, cattle sheep and swine.
Poultry growing is encouraged by lib
eral premiums, but we seldom hear Of
a premium crop of grass. 1t seems
practicable to double the present yield
without an outlay at all corresponding
to the increased value of the crop. Is